Recoil-operated firearm.



PATENTED' JUNE 16, 1903.

J. M. BROWNING.. v REGOIL OPERATED FIREARM.

7 SHEET$-SHBET 1.

' APPLIGATI N H13 6. 1899. no MODEL. 0 ED MAY No. 730,870. PATENTED JUNE 16, 1903.

J. M. BROWNING. REGOIL OPERATED FIREARM.

APPLI AT -6, 1899. no MODEL; u ION FILED 7 snznwssnsm 2.

PATENTED JUNE 16, 1903.

J. M@ BROWNING. REGOIL OPERATED FIREARM.

PP I T N 6.1899. J10 MODEL. A L 0A FILED MAY 7 SHEETSSHEET 3.

MK x 41. QM

2' lllllllI No. 730,870. :PATENTED JUNE 16, 1903.

J. M. BROWNING. REGOIL OPERATED FIREARM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 1899;

7 SHEETS8HEET 4 N0 MO'DEL.

PATENTED JUNE 16, 190:

'7 SHEETSLSHEET J. M. BROWNING. REGOIL OPERATED FIREARM.

APPLI n10 PI ED M 6-1899. no MODEL. 0 N u No. 730,870. PATEN-TED JUNE 16, 1903 J. M'. BROWNING.

RECOIL OPERATED FIREARM.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 6. 1899. N0 MODEL. 7 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

NO. 730,870. PATENTED JUNE 16, 1903.

J. M. BROWNING. I

REGOIL OPERATED FIREARM.

A'PPLIGATI N FILED MA 6. 1899. N0 MODEL. 0 Y 7 SHEETS SHBET 7- UNirinn STATES Patented June 16, 1903.

ATENT RECOlL-OPERATED FIREARM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 730,870, dated June 16, 1903. I Application filed May'6, 1899; Serial No. 715,822. (No model.) I

the same, and which-said drawings constitute. part of this specification, and represent, in'-' Figure 1, a broken view, in side elevation, of one form which a recoil-operated 'giln constructed in accordance with my invention may assume,a portion of the fore-arm being broken away to show the action-spring, a portion of the magazine being broken away to show the magazine-spring, and a portion of the stock being broken away to show the combined hammer and mainspring. Fig. 1 is an enlarged view, in transverse section on the line ab, of

the preceding figure to show the bearing-collar dependirg ir .n the barrel and encircling and riding upon the magazine;'Fig.'2, a re verse broken plan View of the gun, Fig. 3, a

plan view thereof; Fig. 4, an enlarged broken view of the gun, in side elevation with portions of the upper and lower members of its receiver broken away to show parts of itsaction mechanism, and particularly its feeding instrumentalities; Fig. 5, abroken view of the gun in verticallongitudinal section with its parts in the positions due to them when the gun is closed; Fig. 6, a broken view of the gun, partly in side elevation and partlyin vertical longitudinal section, the upper member of the receiver being shown at the limit of its rearward excursion; Fig. 7, a partial view, in side elevation, of the action mechanism at the time the ejector is brought into operation for ejecting an empty shell by the engagement of the finger of the ejector-lever by the lower end of the rear link; Fig. 8, a similar but more comprehensive view showing the upper member of the receiver at the limit of its forward excursion,with the breechbolt held back by the carrier-lever and a cartridge on the carrier ready to be lifted thereby to the barrel; Fig. 9, a similar but less comprehensive view showing the parts in the act of raising a cartridge to the barrel; Fig. 10, a view in vertical transverse section on the line 0 d of Fig. 4; Fig. 10", a partial section on the same line, showing the cartridge-lever .by broken as well as by full lines; Fig. 11, a

lines; Fig. 13, a corresponding view of the eject-or; Fig. 14, a corresponding view of the 15, a detached reverse .plan view of the breech-bolt, showing also the.

cartridge-stop; Fig.

sear and the extractors; Fig. 16, a view of the breech-bolt in rear elevation; Fig. 17, a detached view, inside elevation, of thehammer; Fig. 1 8, a plan view thereof; .Fig. 19, a broken partial view, in transverse section, or. the line .ef of Fig. 4; Fig. 12, adetached plan view of the carrier, showing the ejector by broken view, in horizontal section, through the right- I hand wall of thelower member of the receiver, showing the carrier-catch; Fig. 20, adetached .broken view, in horizontal section, showing portions of the right-hand walls-of the upper and lower members of the receiver and the recesses formed in them acting with the cartridge-guide.

My invention relates to an improvement inrecoil-operated magazine-firearms in which all of the several operations of the arm, with the single exception of pulling the trigger, are performed' .bly power derived from the successive explosions of the cartridges in the cartridge-chamber of the gun-barrel, the object of my present invention being to produce a simple, safe, compact, and effective firearm of the class described composed'of comparatively few parts and not liable to become deranged.

With these ends in view my invention consists in a. recoil-operated magazine-firearm hailing certain details of construction and combinations of parts, as will behereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

for receiving and co In the accompanyingdrawings I have I chosen to illustrate the application of my invention to a shotgun, larly well adapted; but the invention may also be adapted, as I would have it understood, to other classes of magazine-firearms.

In carrying out my invention I employ a rec'oilingreceiver A and a non-recoiling receiver B, the former being located upon the latter and so as to slide back and forth thereupon. 'lhese two parts constitute, in fact,

the upper and lower members of a longi-tudi-. gun frame or receiver; but for nally-(livided for which it is particudetermined by trial after the gun has been The collar, in connection with, the magazine, therefore acts as a guide for the reciprocation {of the barrel and the recoiling receiver and the sake of convenience I shall speak of them as the recoiling an non-recoiling receivers. Of course the non-recoiling receiver partakes of the recoil ensuing upon the explosion of a cartridge, and I do not wish to be understood that this part does not recoil; but its recoil, so far as it does recoil, is of a negative character, while the recoiling receiver has a considerable excursion back and forth. All of the recoiling parts of the action mechanism of the gun are connected directly or indirectly'with the recoiling receiver, while the nouerecoiling parts of the gun, such as the magazine 0 and the stock D, are firmly fixed to the non-recoiling receiver B. As shown, the inner faces of the lower ends of. the side walls offlie upper or recoiling receiverare formed with longitudinally-arranged grooves A", receiving outwardly-extending longitudinally-arranged ribs B, formed upon the upper edgesefithe side walls of the non-recoil-- ing receiver 13.

"lhe gun-barrel E is screwed in the ordinary manner into the forward end of the recoiling\ receiver and provided a short distance forward of its butt-end with a depending collar or ring E, encircling the magazine 0, as shown in Fig. l, the fit between the collar and magazine being loose enough to permit the collar to slide back and forth upon the magazine.

prevents the latter from cramping. Between the rear edge of the collar E and the forward end of the non-recoiling receiver B, I locate a heavy'action-spring'l which encircles the magazine, as clearly'shown in Figs. 1 and 5. This spring is compressed during the rearward or recoiling excursion of the. recoiling receiver A and barrel E and operates when it recovers to return those parts to'the limit of their forward excursion after the force of the explosion of the cartridge has been spent. To limit this forward excursion, I locate upon the magazine 0 an adjustable nut C, which provides for adjusting the said spring in tension, which is located forward of the collar E, as shown-in Fig. 1, and between the rear edge of thisnutand the forward edge of thesaid collar I locatea buffer E 'for which I shall preferably employ vulcanized fiber, which 'may, however, be replaced'by any other suitable substance or material. The said nut C is employed for adjusting the tension of the ac: tion-spring F, so that the same will have just. power e no ugh to restorethe recoilin g receiver to its closed positionand hold it there under proper tension, and no more, forif the spring is not under suflicient tension the parts will; not be held in their closed positions with 's'ufficient firmness. On the other hand, if the spring is placed "under too much tensionby' the said nut the shock 06 the return of the recoiling receiver to its closed position will rack the gun. The mean tension is therefore tion that the compression of the action-spring will not appreciably aifect the relations of the sear N and. the dog 0, because any slightv change in relation of those parts is provided "for by the rocking of the dog under the influence of the spring 0. It will be seen by reference to Fig. 1 that the action-spring F, the nut O, and the buffer E as well as the rear portion of the magazine, are inclosed by a shield G, secured by a screw 9 to the forward end of the non -recoiling receiver B. This shield corresponds to the fore-arm of an ordinary gun and might with propriety be so designated.

The breech-bolt H is located in the extreme forward end of the recoiling receiver A and provided with two outwardly-extending rearwardlyrarranged ribs h, which run back and forth in correspondingly-arranged grooves 71, formed in the recoiling receiver, as shown in Fig. 10. It is because this part is confined by the said ribs and grooves to longitudinal movement that I have chosen to designate it by the term bolt rather than by the term block. At its rear end the breech-bolt is formed with a recess II, receiviuga knuckle I, formed at the forward end-of the forward operating-link 1 a pivot-pin 1 passing through the said knuckle and through the rear end of the breech-bolt, serving to pivotally connect them together. The breech-bolt is provided with a short firing-pin 11*, located in a slightly-inclined position and furnished with a retracting-springH The'rear end of the forward link 1 is slotted for the reception of a knuckle J, formed at the forward end of the rear link J, which is connected with the rear end of the forward link by means of a pivot-pin J while the rear end of the rear link is pivotally connected with the rear end of the recoilingreceiver bymeans of a pivot-pin .1 By reference to Fig. 5 of the drawings, which represents the gun in its closed position, it willbe observed that the center of the intermediatepivot-pin Pie in a planeslightly below the centers of the pivot-pins l and 5*. Under this arrangement of the pivot-pins the two links and the breech-bolt form a solid 'and safe resistance against the rearward pressureof the explod ing cartridges, for the greater the resistance the greater will be the' tendencyrof the central pin J to move downward, and the more that. pivot-pin moves downward thegreater the bracing action of the said parts. The-forward end of the rear liuk J isfurnished with two laterally extending. wing like finger pieces J J, which provide for opening the gun by hand- These wing-like finger-pieces are located entirely above the pivot-pin J? upon the edge of one of the links, whichtheypermit to close down flush with the top of the recoiling receiver A, beyond the sidewalls of which they extend sufiiciently-to permit them to be, seized with a strong grip, whiclris required in this arm formanuaily liftingth'e I links. The forward end of the rearlink is also formed upon its lower face with a cam-surface J which coacts .with a rounded shoulder J formed on the non-recoiling receiver at the 5 rear end thereof, in lifting up or humping up the links, so as tocarry the center of the pin J? above the centers of the pins 1 and J after which the rearward momentum of the recoilin parts willrforce up or hump up the links,

I o with the effect of starting the breech-bolt back into its full open position, as shown in Fig. 9. I may here mention that the cam-surface J and the shoulder J might be reversed in location and the same result secu red. By locating the cam -surface J upon the rear link J at a point forward of the pin .1 I secure an economy of space and enable the mechanism of the gun to be made shorter than it could beif the camsurface J or its equivalent were located upon the rear link J at a point to the rear of the in J The rear end of the rear link J is slotted for the reception of a stationary locking-cam K, held in place by the pivot-pip. J which passes through it, as shown in Fig. 5,

and is prevented from turning on the said pivot-pin by means of a lug is, entering a corresponding recess is, formed in the rear end of-the recoiling receiver.. The forward end of this cam is formed with a beveled noseK, o coacting with the beveled rear end of a friction-stud L,located in asuitable recessformed in the rear link'J, the stud itself being hollow for the reception of an actuating-spring L, which exerts a constant effort to force its beveled 'rear end into engagement with the nose K of the cam. Thebeveled end of this stud engages of the cam, and therefore holds the links down in their closed positions under the ten- 40 sionofthespringL',which, however,isreadily overcome for the automatic'opening of the gun, at which time the spring L is compressed, allowing the nose of the stud to pass Y over the nose of the cam. I locate in the 5 said cam a retaining-screw 75 employed for holding the pivot-pin J against endwise displacement. At its rear end the breech-bolt is formed with a depending recoil-face 9, which at the limit of the rearward excursion ofthe boltengages with a recoilor'abutment shoulderlfi, formed near the, rear end of the n'on-recoiling' receiver B, as shown in Fig. 5. The breech-bolt is also provided, as shown in Fig. 15, with extractors 12, located upon its 5 sides and of any approved construction, these operating .in the usual manner to extract the spent cartridges from the gun-barrel. For the purpose otdisengaging the cartridges from these extractors when the gun is operated by hand I employ two beveled ribs 1*, located cpposite each other-upon the opposite faces of the inner walls of the recoiling receiver A, one of these ribs being shown in Fig. 8. When the 'gun is being opened by Q5 hand, the head of'the cartridge being held by and between the extractors 12 just men tioned is drawnback in a straight line, and:

withfthe lower face of the nose when near the limit of its rearward movement the head of the cartridge comes in contact with the beveled ripper faces of the said ribs 0", by which it is forced upward and so disengaged from the'extractors. Being thus disengaged from the extractors, the cartridge may be removedby hand or discharged from the gun by turning the same over. Acartridge may also be removed from the gun in this manner in case of a misfire. When the gun is being operated automatically,the cartridges are antomatically discharged by mechanism/to be described later on. ribs r act tolimit the upward movement of the cartridges when thegu'n is being operated automatically, as will also be described later on.

For the operation of the firing-pin H I employ a longitudinally-movable hammer M, detached views of which are shown by Figs.

17 and 18. The forward end of this hammer extends forward into a recess M, formed in the rear end of the lower face of the breechbolt H, the said end of the hammer being 0 provided with two oppositely-projecting l'ugs 'm m, which slide in grooves m m formed for their reception in the breech-bolt, as shown in Fig. 16 A pair of fingers m m, extending downward from the forward end of the forward link 1?, are sufficiently separated from each other for the reception between them of the extreme forward end of the hammer, with the forward faces of the said lugs m m-of which they engage. When the gun is opened, zoo

thefingers 'm" m, acting againstthe lugsm,

operate to force the hammer back intd its cocked position. i 1

.A sear N, located directly under the for- I ward end of the hammer, is hungon a hold-x05 "zontal pin N in the lower face of thebreech-' bolt, 11, which is formed with a recess N for the reception of the forward end of the sear,

as well as for the reception of the sear-spring N which is arranged to exert a constant ef- 11o fort to lift the rear end of the sear into eugagement with the cocking-notch n of the hammer. The extreme end ofthe sear is formed with a forwardlyturned hook 7%,

adapted to be engaged by a rearwardly-turned I 15 hook 0, located at the upper end of a scardog 0, pivotally mounted upon the extreme forward end of the trigger O, which is hung upon a pin 0 in the lower tangs 13 which is formed with a finger-guard B, into which the arm finger-piece 0. of the trigger extends in the usual manner. g

\Vith the sear-dog 0 and the trigger O, I employ a double spring 0, located directly belowthe rear end of the trigger in such po- I2 sition as to engage not only with the same to throw the same upward, butalso with the forward corner ofthe dog, so as to throw the upper end of the same rearward. However, these results might. be accomplished by a 13 different spring or by the employment of more than one spring. By constructing the sear, sear-dog, and hammer as described I prevent the firing of more than one shot with The lower faces of the-8o one pull of the trigger, for in this class of automatic arms the action of the mechanism is so rapid that some provision must be made for firing only one shot with one pull of the trigger, for otherwise two or more shots would be fired before the pressure upon the trigger could be released. Under this construction the hook of the sear is engaged by the hook of the sear-dog when the gun is ready for firing. Then when the trigger is pulled the sear-dog operates to draw the sear down out of the cocking-notch of the hammer. When the recoil takes place, the sear and hammer are driven rearward away from the dog; but as they come forward the hook of the sear instead of hooking into the hook of the dog merely engageswith the upper face thereof and pushes the dog forward, whereby the dog is prevented from hooking i ito the sear until the pull upon the trigger is released and the spring 0 allowed to act to lift the trigger and throw the dog rearward into position for engagement with the sear.

A vertically-split safety device P, suspended'by its upper end from a pin. P, termin'ates below the trigger in a roughened surface for engagement by the finger for its operation. The friction developed between the said safety device and the side walls of the opening in the lower tang B in which it is hung, is sufficient to hold it in any position in which it may be set. It is formed with a shoulder 10, which when it is swung rear wardly engages with a shoulder 19, formed in the .trigger,'which is thus firmly locked against movement. In its normal position,

in which it is shown in Fig. 5, the two shoul- (lore of the triggerand safety device cleareach other.

The rear end of the hammer terminates in a'rod-like finger -M ,-having a rounded end, which is seated in the cup-like forward end of a plunger Q, located in a cylindrical chamber Q, formed in the upper tang B of the non-recoiling receiver B, this chamber Q being extended byalong tube Q located in the butt-stock D. The said chamber and tube contain the spirally-wound mainspring Q which exerts a constant efliort to press the plunger Q forward and which acts through the hammer M not only to give the same its forward impulse for operating the firing-pin H but also through the medium of the ham- 'mer and sear to assist in restoring the action mechanism of the gun to its closed position, and more especially the breech-bolt, which i it pushes forward for the insertion of the cartridges into the cartridge-chamber of the gunbarrel. v

'The action of the recoil throws the hammer back so quickly that if it is not limited in its rearward flight it will be liable to dis'arrangement. To avoid that, I form the hammer at its rear end with a. stop-shoulder M which moves back and forth in a long narrow slot M formed to receive it in the lower face of the upper tang B aforesaid. This slot termiof suction.

prefer to form in its side walls with several air-holes r, which prevent the retardation of the movement of the follower by ,the action By the location-of these holes in the side walls of the follower they are spaced so that dirt cannot well get into them and so that they will not be interfered with in their operation by the heads of thecartridges, as they would be if they were located in the closed rear end of the follower.

Under the action of the spring R and follower R the cartridges are delivered from the magazine upon the forward end of a carrier S, hung upon a pivot S, passing through its extreme rear end and mounted in the non-- recoiling lower receiver 13. This carrier also serves as the gate through which the magazinc is loaded through the feeding-opening B formed in the forward portion of the lower wall of the non-recoiling receiver B, which is provided with a pin t, on which the said part is hung. The forward end of this part is turned at a right angle to form a stop-finger T which in the elevated position of the part not only prevents the cartridge or cartridges in the magazine from following the cartridge which has already been pushed out upon the carrier, but also prevents the cartridge on the carrier from recoiling or being thrown back into the magazine. Here it may be stated that when the gun is fired with a heavily-loaded cartridge the recoil movement is so quick that unless there is something to prevent it the cartridge upon the carrier will be thrown back into the magazine, or, to speak more exactly, the cartridge upon the carrier will stand still and the gun will recoil back landed in the magazine if it were not for the obstruction offered by the stop-finger, which thus performs the double function of keeping not only the cartridge or cartridges in the magazine in their place, but the cartridge upon the carrierin its place. When the gun is closed, the said combined cartridgestop and carrier-depressor has its forward end depressed and its rear end elevatedby the coaction of a lug T depending from the rear end of the breech-bolt, and an upwardly-extending lug T formed near the forward end of the said part. When theforward end of -the said arm-will return and the said part is depressed as described, its stop-finger T is depressed into a position in which it does not interfere with the emergence of the cartridges from the magazine. 5 Aspring T carried by the said combined part and located .under.its forward end, provides for lifting the said end and depressing its rear end upon the opening movementof the breechbolt, which doesmot'take place until 'the recoiling receiver A has been thrown nearly to the limit of its rearward excursion by the recoil'followi'ng the explosion of a cartridge in the gun-barrel. The said spring T then lifts the forward end of the part, so as to bring its but this spring T has nothing to do with the actionof'the part T as a carrier-depressor, the entire part springing from end to endin the discharge of that function. At its rear end the combined. part T is formed with an inwardly-tuhned lifting-fingrET, which passes under a lifting-lug T'Q'formed at the extreme rear end of the carrier, so that when the forward end of the part T is depressed by the the carrier will also be depressed in position to receive a cartridge by the lifting of its rear end through the medium of the finger T and the lug T The carrier will now be held in its normal or receiving position by the part T acting as a spring and yielding throughout its length to permit the forward end of the carrier to be pushed upward sufliciently .to permit cartridges to be introduced one by one through the feeding-opening the lower-or non-.recoiling receiver 13. It will be understood, of course, that the magazine is charged while the gun is closed, and therefore while the part T is held in its depressed positionby thebreech-bolt. When, however, the breech-bolt moves rearward, so as to clear it's lug T from the lug T of the part T, the

forward end of the said part is lifted by the spring T and the rear end thereof depressed, so as to clear the lifting-finger T from the lifting-iug of the carrier, which is now free in the sense that no spring imposes any restraint against its being freely lifted for presenting a cartridgein front of the bi'eech-bolt.

A carrier-lifter 'U in theform of a bellcrank lever is provided for lifting the carrier and hung upon a pirr'u in receiver 15. The lower end 'of this lifter ex tends 'rearwardly under the carrier while its upper end extends upward into'position to be engaged by a-beveled lug U, dependingfrom the breech-bolt, as seen in Fig. 15, the said upper end of the lifter having its forward edge beveled, as at u, so that when the breechbolt moves rearward the bevel u of the lifter will coact with the bevel u of the lug U and .push the upper arm'of the lifter inwardly, so as to permit the lug U to pass it, after which take a position directly in front of. the square forward edge of the lug U,.as shown in Fig. 6. I should here explain that thelifter'Uads so looselycartridge-stop T into its operative position action of the breech-bolt the forward end of 13 formed in the non-recoiling' mounted upon the pivot-pin u that it is free to have a slight sidewise rocking movement, as well as a forward and back rocking movement. A spring U engaging with the lower arm of the lifter, is employed for restoring it to its normal or vertical position, in which it is shown in Figs. lO-and 10?.

A carrier-catch is employed for locking the carrier in its depressed position while the opening of the gun is being completed, the shell ejected, and a new cartridge fed into position on the carrier for being lifted in front of the breech-bolt. This carrier-catch is located in a re'eessV', formed in the inner face of the right-hand wall of the non-recoiling receiver Band hung upon a pin V Asmall spiral spring V located behind it, Fig. 19, provides for normally throwing it outward, so that a locking-lug V extending inwardly from its forward end, will engage with the adjacent or right-hand edge of the. forward end of the carrier. When the carrier is depressed, the lug position, in which it will be held until the cam-finger '0, formed at the forward end of the catch, is engaged by the head of the cartridge, which is moved onto the carrier from the magazine. The head of the cartridge then pushes the catch outward against the force of its spring V whereby the carrier is released for being lifted by the action of the carrier-lifter U. If the recoiling receiver has completed its forward excursion, and therefore the opening of the breech of the .gun, at the time the carrier-catch has been disengaged by the head of an incoming cartridge from the carrier, the mainspring Q which, through the medium of the hammer M, is constantly pressing the breech-bolt H against the upper arm of the carrier-lifter, will then act and by forcing the square forward edge of the lug U against the rear edge of the upper arm of the carrier-lifter will cause the same to be rocked forward,whereby the carrier will be immediately lifted, so as to present the cartridge upon it infront of the breech-bolt, which will then .be moved forward into its closed position, with the effect of inserting the cartridge into the cartridge-chamber of for the dis} the gun-barrel; but to.provide engagement of the carrier-catch from the carrier by the head of a cartridge before the recoiling receiver has reached the limit of its forward movement and so fullyopened the breech of the gun I providea movable cartridge-guide W, which is located directly above the carrier-catch V, as shown in Fig,5, and secured to the inner face of the righthand wall of the non-recoiling receiver B by means, of a pin w, Fig. 20., The heads of the incoming cartridgesare caused to pass under V of the catch springs over its upper edge and locks it in its depressed this guide by means of a solid horizontallyarranged guide-rib W, z the inner face of the right-hand side wall of meson-recoding receiver B, the movable cartridge-guideNV virtuallyforming'an'extension Fig. 5, fo -med upon s ejector-lever X, and no harm will result.

the carrier, tobe lifted.

of this fixed guide-rib W. At a point above and a little in front of the forward end of the carrier-catch V the cartridge-guide is formed with an outwardly-projecting lug W which extends through a transyerse opening W formed in the said side wall of the non-recoiling receiver, and permits the lug to ride upon the lower edge of the inner face of the right-hand wall of the'recoiling receiver as the same moves back and forth; but the said wall of the recoiling receiver is formed with a shallow recess W arranged in position so that when the recoiling receiver reaches its fully forward position the recess registers with the lug and allows the same, as. well as the forward end of the cartridge-guide, to spring outward,and thus permit the cartridge,and hence It will thus be seen that the cart'ridgeguide prevents'the carrier from being lifted during the forward excur sion of the recoiling receiver and before the same has been brought into its fully forward, position, even if the coaction of a cartridge prematurely on;

with the carrier-catch should lock the carrier. A a It will be seen from the foregoing that the breech-bolt is virtually locked in its open positionby the carrier-lifter through the medium of the carrier, which is itself virtually locked in its depressed position by the carrier-catch and by the cartridge-guide acting through the medium of a cartridge, the

breech-bolt being so locked while the'actionspring F is moving the recoiling receiver forward and completing the opening of the gun.

For the rapid ejection of the spent cartridges I employ an ejector-lever X'and an ejector X, which operate to eject the-shell out of the gun directly after its withdrawal from the cartridge-chamber ofthe gun-barrel. The ejector-lever X is hung by its rear end from the upper tang B and formed at its forward 'end with-a beveled finger m, Fig. 4, which is engaged by the rear end of the link J. The ejector-lever is alsofurnished at its forward end with a nose to, which coacts with a head cs formed on the rear end of a stifl spring m secured to the lower edge of the ejector, which is hung upon the pivot S, on which the carrier S turns, the carrier being formed with a long longitudinally-arranged slot 00 for the reception of the ejector. As soon as the rear end of the rear link J passes over the finger a; of the ejector-le ver the ejector is allowed to fall back into its normal position in the carrier out of the way of the breech-bolt, which then passes over it. In the ordinary action of the ejector "the spring 00 does not yield; but it from any cause the DIQGGhvbOlilShQllid. be moved forward prior to the action of the ejector, so that the ejectorimpin-ges upon its under face instead of striking up in front of it, then the spring will yield to permit the rear end of the link J? to ride over the finger w of the I do not, however, limit myself to accomplishing theseresiilts in the particular way shown, asit will h e understood that the spring'm might be anonnte d' upon the ejector-lever,

instrumentalities represented by the ejectorlever and kicker. Y

In order to hold. the ejector down in its normal posit and preventit fromv ra-ttliug, I employ a spring X securedtothe upper face of the carrier S, Fig. 12-,and engaging with the eje'ctor'at apoint just in advance of the pivot S, on which it is hung. I have explained that the ejector-lever is operated by the rear end of the link J just before the forcompleted, and it may be wellto explain that during the rearward excursion of the recoiling receiver the link J, beingin a horizontal yer, but simply passes over it.

-'my improved arm, I will briefly set forth the mode of its operation. For using it as a magahzinegtin the magazine is charged when the igun "is closed by introducing the cartridges the bottom of".thenon-recoiling receiver by which yields for their admission against the been charged,.t-he finger-pieces. J J on the rear 'link J are grasped: by. the" thumb and parts are pulled upward and back-ward as far as they;will go, They are then allowed to return to their closedpositions under the inready for firing bypulliug the trigger. -When the gun is fired, the recoil ensuing from the ing receiver backward to the limit of its rear excursion. During this rearward excursion the breech-bolt and the links remain in their closed and locked positions until the said receiverhas traveled nearly to the limit of its rearward excursion,when the cam-surface J 5 on the rear link impingesagainst the shoulder J, whereby the rear link is turned on its forward ,link 1 withitqso that the pin ,J is lifted up out of line with the pins 1? and .1", thus unlocking the links,whereby the breechboltis withdrawn a short distance. During this rearward excursion of the recoiling receiver and barrel the action-spring F'is compressed by the guiding-collar E, depending from the gun-barrelE, until it arrests the rearward excursion of the recoiling receiver and barrel. However, the momentum imparted to the breech bolt and links causes their movement to be continued until the recoil-face 9 of thebreech-bolt engages with the It may here be explained that the said links do not reach their full open positions until and, furthermoregthatsome other recoiling part might befutilize'd to actuate the ejecting wardimovement of the recoiling receiver is position, does not engage with theejector-lejm Having. now described the constructiou of forefinger andfthe link and its-connected one liy'o'ne --through the feeding-opening in; i

pressing them upward against the carrier S,

"tensio'nlof' the combined cartridge-stop and? carrier-depressor '11] The magazine having finenceifof the mainspring, and th'e'gunris' explosion of the cartridge forces the recoi1 pivot-pin J 3 and thrown upward, carnying the -recoil-face 10 of the non-recoiling receiver.

. torn,- and as soon as camera 'ther forward than shown, as-it moves nearly to the point wherethe shell is kicked out while the breech-bolt is completing its rearward movement-i. 2., after the recoil-ingre- 'ceiver has reached the limit of itsrearward movement it is immediately started forward by the action-spring,.so that while the breechbolt is completing its rearward movement under the impulse'of the recoil the receiver is at the'same time moving forward under the pressure of the action-spring. In the construction of the gun itmay, if desired, be arranged to operate without any mechanism for holding the bolt at the limit of its rearward movement by giving it a longer travel and the receiver a shorter movement; but in carrying out my present invention I prefer to hold the bolt back andlet the receiver complete its forward movement somewhat later. This forward mpvement oft-he receiver while the boltis held back at the limit of its rearward travel draws the cartridge-chamber away from the spent oartridge,which isheld by the extracthe chamber has cleared itself from the forward end of the cartridge the ejector-lever and ejector operate to eject 'the cartridge from the gun, as shown in Fi 7. At about this time the head of the next carrier-catchV and pushes the same outward into the recess V, whereby thelocking-lngV is disengaged from the adjacent edge of the carrier, which is now unlocked, so far as the carrier-catch is concerned, and as soon as the recoiling receiver reaches the limit of its forward excursion its recess W is brought'into registration with the outwardlyprojecting lug W of the cartridge-guide W, which then immediately springs outward and releases the cartridge, leaving the same free to be lifted, whereby the carrier is unlocked so far as I stantly-exerted the cartridge constituted a lock for holding it in its depressed position. The unlocking of the carrier operates to unlock the carrierlifter, which now no longer holds the breechbolt in its retracted position against theconeffort of the mainspring Q to push it forward. As the breech-bolt moves forward the square forward edge of its lug U engages with the square rear edge of the upper arm of the cartridge-lifter, which is then rocked forward on its pivot u, whereby the carrier is lifted in season to present the cartridge upon it in front of the breech-bolt, as

shown in Fig. .9, which in its forward movement pushes the cartridge into the cartridgechamber of the gun-barrel.

As the breechbolt is thus moved into its closed position the links I and J are drawn down into their closedpesitions, as shown in Fig.5, with sufl position, and

ficient fprde to cause the spring-stud L to be snappedunder the nose K of the cam K, the center oflthe pin 5 being carried below the centers 0? the pins 1 'and J whereby the breech-bolt is firmly held in its closed position against, the rear end of the barrel. The gun is nowjn readiness for being fired again by pulling the trigger. It has already been explained that on account of the construction of my gun, and particularly on account of the employment of the vented from being fired more than once by I pulling the trigger once, even if the rearward draft upon the trigger is not removed until after the recoiling receiver has completed its forward excursion.

In using my improved arm as a siugle-loader the breech is opened as before through the medium of the operating-fingers J .1, wherethe cam-finger '0 of the by the hammer is cocked. A cartridge is then dropped into the open top of the recoiling receiver and received by the carrier. The carrier-catch V is then manually operated, by means of its outwardly-projecting button V for unlocking the carrier, and hence the carrier-lever, and hence the breech-bolt,which then starts forward under the action of the mainspring Q and inserts the cartridge in r the gun-barrel and closes the gun,which when fired remains open, because the gun contains no reserve cartridge for automatically unlocking the carrier again. The user of the arm therefore has only to drop in another cartridge in the same way and again press the button. It will be understood, of course, that in opening the un by hand the operator has' only to compress the mainspring, as the action-spring remains at rest except when the gun is fired.

It is apparent that in carrying out myiin vention some changes from the construction herein shown and described may be made not only in utilizing the invention for shotguns, but in'employiugit in the construction of other forms of magazine-arms. therefore have it understood that I do not limit myself to'the construction set forth herein, but hold myself at liberty to make such alterations herein as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention. I do not wish it to be understood, however, as claiming a breech bolt locked by two links, as, broadly speaking, that is old.

Having fully described my invention, what .i claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A recoil-operated magazine gun having a noim'ecoiliiig receiver and a magazine, a recoiling receiver anda barrel, an action-spring for returning the recoiling receiver and bar- .rel to their normal positions, a breech-closing instrnmentality, two upwardly-opening toggle-links connecting the said instrumentality with the recoiling receiver, a cartridge-carrier, acarrier-lificr coacting with the said instrumentality to hold the same in'its retracted acted upon and liftcd thereby dog 0, the gun is pre- ICC.

I would a non-recoiling receiver and a magazine, a recoiling receiver and a barrel, an action-spring for returning the recoiling receiver and barrel to their closed positions, a breech-closing instrumentality, two toggle-links connecting the said instrumentality with the recoiling receiver, and having their central pin located below their end pins when they are in their normal or closed positions, a longitudinallymovable hammer coacting. at its forward end with the said instrumentality,'and a spring coactingwith the rear end of the said hammer and acting through the same, irrespective of the said links, to force the said instrumentality into its closed position.

A recoil-operated magazine-gun having a non-recoiling receiver and a magazine, a recoiling receivenand a barrel, an action-spring for returning the recoiling receiver and barrel to their normal positions, a breech-closing instrumentality, two upwardly-opening toggle-li'nksconnecting the said instrnmentality with the recoiling receiver, a cartridge-car- 'rier, means coacting therewith for holding the said instrnmentality in its retracted position, and a spring for returning the said instrumentality to its closed position.

of the recoiling receiver and barrel, an ziti'onspring for returning the recoiling receiver and barrel to their closed positions, a buffer consisting of a collar mounted upon the magazine at a point in front of the said guidingcollar, and an adjusting-nut also mounted upon the magazine and located in front of the said buffer, the position of which'it controls as well as the tension'of the spring.

5. Arecoil-operated magazine-gun havinga non-recoiling receive: and a magazine, a recoiling receiver and a barrel, an action-spring for returning the recoiling receiver and barrel to their closed positions, a breech-closing instrumentality, two upwardly-opening toggle-links connectin g the said instrumentality with the recoiling receiver, a cartridge-carrier, a carrier-lifter coacting with the said carrier for lifting the same and coacting with said instrumentality for holding the same in its retracted position, a spring for returning the said instrumentality to its closed position, and means'interposed between the said instrumentality and the said spring for communi eating the power of the latter to the former independently of the said links.

6. Arecoil-operatedmagazine-gun havinga non-recoilingreceiverand magazine, a recoiltio ns.

ing receiver and barrel, a breech-closing instrumentality, two upwardly-opening togglelinks connecting the said instrumentality with the recoiling receiver, and having their central pin located below their end pins when they are in their normal or closed positions, means for lifting and thus unlockiugthe said links during the latter part of the rearward excursion of the said recoiling receiver and means for holding said instrumentality in its retracted position and for automatically unlocking it therefrom.

7. A recoil-operated magazine-gun having a non-.recoiling receiver and magazineg a recoilin g receiver and a barrel, 2. breech-closing in strumentality, two upwardly-opening togglelinks connecting the said, instrumentality with the recoiling receiver, and'having their central pin located below their end pins when they are in their normal or closed positions,

means for lifting and unlocking the said links during the latter part of the rearward excursion of the recoiling receiver, and a cam and' spring-controlled stud for normallyholding the said links in their closed and locked posi- 8. A recoil-operated magazine-gun,havinga non'recoiling receiver and a barrel, a breechclosing instrumentality', two upwardly-opening toggle-links connecting the said instrumentality with the recoiling receiver, and having their cent-ral pin located below their end pins when they are in their normal or closed positions, means for lifting and unlocking the said links, a cam located in a recess'in the rear end of the rear link, and a spring-actw atedfriction-stud mounted in the saidrear link and engaging with the cam for holding the links in their closed and locked positions.

9. In a recoiloperated-magazine-gun, the combination with a non-recoiling receiver and a magazine, of a recoiling receiver and a.

barrel, an action-spring for returning the said recoiling receiver and barrel to their closedpositions, a breech closing instrumentality,

two toggle-links for connecting the saidinstrumentality with thu recoiling. receiver, a firing-pin mounted in the said instrumentality, .a longitudinally-movable hammer" coacting at its forward end with the said-firing pin, and a spring coacting with the rear instrumentality into its closed position/after the action-spring has returned the recoiling receiver and the barrel to their closed positions.

'10.. In a recoil-operated magazine-gun, the combination with a non-recoiling recelverand a magazine, of a recoiling receiver and-abat 'rel, an action-spring for returning the said recoiling receiver and barrel to their'closed long longitudinally-movable hammer engaged at its forward end with the said instrumental positions, a breech-closing instrumentality, a

ity, and a spring extending rearward into the -npper tang having a spring-chamber formed in it, of'a recoiling receiverand a barrel, an action-spring for returning the said recoilingreceiver and barrel to their closed positions, a breach-closing instrumentality, a firing-pin mounted in the said instrumentality, a long longitudinally-movable hammer coacting at its forward end with the said firing-pin, and a springloeated'in the said spring-chamher, and coacting with the rear end of the hammer for causing the same-to strike the said pin, and also to foree-thesaid instrumem tality ing receiver and barrel have been returned to their closed positions through the medium of the action-spring.

12. In a recoil-operatedmagazine-gun, the

combination with a non-recoilin g receiver and a magazine,'of a recoiling receiver and a barrel, a breech-closinginstrumentality, a fii ingpin mounted in the said instrumentality, two upwardly-openin g toggle-links connectin g the said inst-rumentality with the recoiling receiver, and having their central pin located below their end pins when they are in their normal or closed positions, and a long longitudinally-movable hammer extending rearwardly beyond the said instrumentality, coacting with the firing-pin and cocked by one of the said links, and a spring eoaeting with the rear end of the said hammer for actuating the firing-pin and for causing the hammer to force the said instrumentality into its closed position irrespective of the said links.

13. In a recoil-operated magazine-gun, the combination with a recoiling receiver, of a breech-closing instrumentality, a firing-pin mounted in the said instru mentality, two upwardly-opening toggle-links connecting the said instrumentality with the recoilingreceiver, and a hammer coactin g at its forward end with the said pin, engaged at its forward end by the forward link which cocks it'when the links are lifted and extending rearward beyond the said instrumentality, and aspring coaeting witheihe rear end of the said hammer.

14. In a recoil-operated magazine-gun, the cemblnation with a recoiling receiver, of a breech-bolt, a scar directly connected with the said bolt and extending rearwardly therefrom, two upwardly-opening toggle-links connecting the said bolt with the recoiling receiver, and having their central pin located below their end pins when. they are-in their closed or normal positions, a longitudinallymovable hammer coacting with the said sear and retracted and cocked by the action of one of said links which engages it with the sear,-and a trigger fon"actuating the sear.

15. In a recoil-operated magazine-gun, the

into its closed position'after the recoil-' combination with a hammer, a trigger, a dog pivotally mounted in the trigger, means for lifting the trigger upward and yieldingly holding the dog at the limit of its pivotal rearward movement, a scar adapted to be engaged by the upper end of, the dog, and a sear-spring operating to engage the sear with the hammer every time the same is moved into its cocked position, the coacting portions of the scar and dog being constructed to require the releasing and pulling of the trigger every time the gun is fired to effect the engagement of the dog with the sear so that the firing of the gun will not be automatic even if the pull upon the trigger is maintained. v a

16; In a recoilperated magazine-gun, the combination with a breech-closing instrumentality, of a carrier, means for locking the carrier in its depressed position, means for automatically unlocking the carrier, and a carrier-- D held by the carrier when the same is in its locked position, and engaglifter engaged and ing the said instrumentality to hold the same at or near the limit of its rearward excursion until after the carrier has been unlocked when the said instrumentality operates the lifter to lift the carrier. 7 x

17. In a recoil-operated magazine-gun, the combination with a breech-closinginstrumentality, of a carrier, means for locking the car rier in its'depressed position, means for automatically unlocking the carrier, and a carrier-lifter engaged and held by the carrier when the same is in its locked position, and engaging the said instrumentality to hold the same at or near the limit of its rearward exeursion until after the carrier has been unlocked when the said instrumentality operates the lifter to lift the carrier, the said car- ICO rier-lifter consisting of a bell-crank lever, the

upper end of which coacts with the breechclosing instrnmentality and the rearwardlyextending lower end of which eoacts with the carrier.

18. In a recoil-operated magazine-gun, the

combination with a breech-closinginstrumentality, of a carrier, means for locking the carrier in its depressed. position, means for a'utomatically unlocking the carrier, and'acarrie'rlifter engaged and held by the carrier when the same is in its locked position, and engaging the said instrumentality to hold the same at or near the limit of its rearward excursion until after the carrier has been unlocked, when the said instrumental-it operates the lifter to lift the carrier, the said carrier-lifter consisting of a bell-crank leverloosely mounted upon a pivot to rock forward and back and sidewise, having its rearwardlyextending lower arm adapted to coaet with the carrier, and having its upper arm beveled to eoact with'a beveled lug depending from thc'said instrumentality, which, in its rearward -ex-- rocks the lifter forward and effects the lifting of the carrier.

'19. In a recoil-operated magazine-gun, the

combination with a carrier for lifting the car-' tridges upward preparatory to their insertion into the gun-barrel, of a carrier-catch which normally locks the carrier in its depressed position, and which is automatically disengaged from the carrier bya rearwardly-moving cartridge, and means for lifting the carrier after it has been unlocked.

20. In a recoil-operated inagazinegun, the combination with a carrier for lifting the cartridges upward preparatory to their insertion into the gun-barrel, of a carrier-catch which normally locks the carrier in its depressed position, and which is automatically disengaged froin the carrier by a rearwardly-moving cartridge, means for lifting the carrier after the same has been unlocked as described, and means for manually disengaging the carrier-catch from the carrier in using the arm as a single loader.

21. Ina recoil-operated magazinegun, the

combination with a carrier for lifting the cartridges into position for insertion .into the gun-barrei,ofacartridge-guide acting through the medium of a cartridge to lock the carrier in its depressed position, and released by one of the recoiling parts of the gun as the same is closed.

22. In a recoil-operated magazine-gun, the combination with a non-recoiling and a recoilirrg receiver, of a carrier for lifting the cartridges into position for insertion into-the gun-barrel, and a cartridge-guide acting through the medium of a cartridge to lock the carrier i formed with an outwardly -projecting lug which extends through an opeiiing formed in .one wall of the non-recoiling receiver into po- I sition to be engaged by the recoiling receiver as the same moves back and forth, the rec oiling receiver being adapted to permit the lug to move outward when the said receiver reaches its fully forward position, whereby the cartridge-guide retires and releases the cartridge and hence permits the lifting of the carrier with the cartridge, which is then in serted intothegun-barrel.

23'. In a recoil-operated magazine-gun, the combination with a non-recoilingand a recoilingreceive'r, of a carrier for lifting the, cartridges upward'preparatory, to their in-.

sertion into' the gun-barrel, a carrier-catch which engages directly with and norma'ily looks the carrier in its depressed position, and which is automatically disengaged from the carrier by a rearwardly-moving cartridge,

a cartridge-guide acting through the medinm o f the cartridge to additionally look the carmm in its depressed position and released by" the recoiling receiver when the same reaches its fully forward position, and means for lift-j ing the carrier'a'fter the carrier-catch and cartridgeguide have been retired.

n its depressed position, and

j upward movement at the 24. In a recoil-operated magazinqgnn, th

combination with two upwardly-opcning toggle-links, of an ejector for ejecting the spent cartridges from the gun, and an ejector-lever located in the rear ofthe said ejector in po sition to coact therewith and to be operated by the rear link.

25. In a recoil-operated magazine-gun, the combination with an ejector, of an ejectorlever operating the ejector, and itself operated by one of the rccoiling parts of the gun,

tor-lever acts upon the ejector and which yields if the free operation of the ejector is obstructed.

26. In a recoil-operated magazine-gun, the combination with an ejector pivoted at its 'rear end, of an ejector-lever located in rear of the ejector, pivoted at its rear end, having yielding connection at its forward end with the ejector and provided with an upwardlyextending finger which is engaged by one of the recoiling the lever, which in turn actuates the ejector.

27. In a rccoil-operated magazine-gun, the combination with a recoiling and a non-recoiling receiver, of a breech-closing instrumentality, two toggle-links connecting the said instrumentality with the reooiling reing with the ejector to operate it and engaged ing the ejector. j

28. In a recoil-operated magazine-gun, the combination with a carrier for lifting the cartridges into position to be inserted intothe gun-barrel and formed with a long longitudinally-arranged slot,-of an ejector located in the said slot and pivoted at its rear end, and means for operating the said ejector by one of the recoiliug parts of. the gun. 29. In a recoil-operated inagazinegun, the combination with a pivotal carrier for lifting -'the cartridges into position for insertioninto the gun-barrel, and formed with a long longitudinally-arranged slot, of an ejector located in the said slot and hung at its rearend upon the pivot of the carrier and operated by one of the recoiling parts of the gun.

30. In arecoil-operated magazine-gun, the combination with a carrierfor lifting the cartridges intoposition for insertion into the gunbarrel, and formed with a long longitudinally-arranged slot, of an ejector located in the said slot, and, pivoted upon the pivot of the carrier, an ejector lever hung by its rear end, and a yielding connection between the ejector and the forward end of the ejector-lever which is engaged for operation by one of the reooiling parts of the gun.

' 31. In a recoil-operated magazine-gun, the combination with a breech-bolt provided with cartridge-extractors, of a receiver in which the said bolt is mounted,l and which is provided' with one or ,more longitudinally-arranged ribs located in 'sition to limit the bartridges as they ail'filifted from, the mag agii ne, and having their and a safetyspring through which the ejecparts of the gun for operating ceiver, an ejector, and an ejector-lever coactby the rear link which operates it in actuat-.

. pressed position,

sides of by hand.

the gun and moves into right position upon 4 the carrier.

'sition ripe.

33. In an automatic gun, the combination with a breech-bolt, of a pivotal carrier, a carrier-lifter which acts to lift the carrier and to hold the breech-bolt in its open position, and means to hold the carrier in its depressed position at which time it acts through the said lifter to; hold the-bolt in its open position; the

said means being automatically released from the carrier to permit the same to be lifted,by a rearwardly-moving cartridge;

34. In an automatic gun, the combination with a carrier, of a carriercatch normally locking the carrier in its depressed position, automatically disengaged from the carrier. by a cartridge when the same is fed from the magazine of the gun and moves into right pothe carrier, and having an exposed par "or button adapted-to be manually operated to release the carrier. 35. In an automatic gun, the combination with a breech-bolt which slides rearward and forward for opening and closing the breech, and means for holding the said bolt at the limit of its rearward exc ursion,the said means being automatically releasedby the cartridges as'they are fed from the magazine, and provided with an exposed part'or button j for bolt when there are no cartridges in the magazine.

36. In an automatic gun, the combinationwith a recoiling and a non-.recoiling receiver, of abreech-closing instrumentality, two upwardly-opening toggle-links connecting the saidinstrum'entality with the recoiling receiver, means for holding the said instrumenthe carrier by a cartridge- 'faceupon the receiver or casing, and unlocking the links.

tality at or .near the limit of its rearward excursion, whereby the links are held in their elevated or open positions, and manually-operable means for releasing the said instrumentality when held as described, to permit it to move forward into its closed position, and to permit the links to assume their closed positions. F

37. In recoil-firearms having movablebarlrels', the combinationof the rearward-moving barrel with linked levers, a stud or projection at the bending or knee point of the linked levers and a curved guide-surface of the casing located in the path of the said projection, which in consequence of'the recoil after firing is pressed against the said surface, substantially'as shown and described.

38. In are'coil-operated'magazine gun, the

combination with the receiver or casing, of abarrel, a breech-closing recoiling or sliding instrumentality,'and two u pwardly-breaking toggle-links connecting the saidinstrumentality with the recoiling or sliding barrel, the rear link of the two toggle-links being provided ata point forward of" its rear pin with a surface for engagement with a surface upon the receiver or casing for lifting and unlocking the links during the rearward excursion of the recoiling or sliding barrel.

39. In. a recoil-operated magazine-gun, the combination with the receiver or casing, of a recoiling or-sliding barrel, a breech-closing instrumentality, and two upwardly-breaking toggle-links connecting the said instrumen-v tality with the recoiling or sliding barrel, one of-the said links being provided at a point forward of the rear pin of the rear link with a surface for engagement with,the said surfor lifting In testimony whereof'I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN M. BROWNING.

Witnesses: I

.T. W. F; VOLKER, N. GAIL NORTON. 

